Sermons on Inner Character:

Whitewashed Tomb Christians Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on May 10, 2025

This metaphor reveals the contrast between outward appearances and inner reality, exposing the hypocrisy that plagues many who claim to follow God.

In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus unleashes a scathing critique on the Pharisees, calling them "whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." This metaphor reveals the contrast between outward appearances and inner reality, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-28, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

You Have Found Favor With God

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on Feb 3, 2006

The Archangel Gabriel said Mary was selected to become the mother of Jesus because she had “found favor with God.” What was it about Mary that caught the Lord’s attention. What qualities did she possess which “found favor with God?”

As we continue our study of the Gospel According to Luke, I want to focus our attention on the person of Mary. Of all the women of Judah, she was chosen by God to become the mother of the Messiah, the King and Redeemer of Israel. Gabriel said she was selected because she had “found favor with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-55

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Foreign Mother Full Of Faith

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 16, 2014

In the passage today we see a mother determined to get to Jesus on behalf of her afflicted child. We need mothers like this in our world. We also need to honor the mothers we have like this.

Intro: When Robert Ingersoll, the notorious skeptic, was in his heyday, two college students went to hear him lecture. As they walked down the street after the lecture, one said to the other, “Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn’t he?” The other ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

Robbing A Blessing Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 28, 2009

Jacob finds out the hard way that sin has built-in consequences.

Deception carries some built-in consequences. One beautiful Sunday morning a deacon decided to skip church and play a round of golf. The fifth hole was the most challenging of the entire course, but nonetheless the deacon, to his delight, made a hole-in-one. An angel observing this turned to God ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 27:1-46

Denomination: Congregational

What Angels Look Like Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Oct 4, 2007

Exposition of Acts 6:8-15 about the character of Stephen

Text: Acts 6:8-15, Title: What Angels Look Like, Date/Place: NRBC, 10/07/07, AM A. Opening illustration: tell about the Rick Gage Crusade in TN, tell a little bit about George Whitfield as an example from his biography – p. 98 & 105, B. Background to passage: Coming off the selection of seven men ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15

Denomination: Baptist

Stop Feeling Guilty

Contributed by Troy Borst on Aug 17, 2011

All of that is important, but it is David’s record of Psalm 51 which is his diary of sorts on how he dealt with that guilt. David’s wrote his heart down on paper and we have it recorded in Scripture for us. All of us deal with guilt from many different

STOP FEELING GUILTY PSALM 51 & PSALM 32 INTRODUCTION The movie “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) is a movie that many of us have seen and is quite a memorable movie because of its portrayal of the D Day invasion of Normandy in World War II. The movie begins and ends with an elderly man ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

King Of The Life We Dream About

Contributed by Paul Kallan on Nov 18, 2002

Anyone who brings us the hope of a new life has the character of a king!

The parable of Matthew 25.31-46 presents the concrete and visible demands of our christian faith. Jesus is presented as the King of the life of the people of God. He has the authrotiy to take an account of our life and to judge a life either as just or unjust. One who feeds the hungry, provides a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Catholic

Come ... Together

Contributed by Paul Decker on Nov 5, 2007

Live out the unity we have been given. [This message was given in the context of an inner city and a suburban church meeting together for worship.]

COME…TOGETHER! Galatians 3.28 S: Unity C: Racism Th: Come…Together Pr: Let’s stop just talking about racism; let’s do something about it… LIVE OUT THE UNITY WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN! Type: Inductive PA: How is the change to be observed? • Change your attitude • Be more than friendly; be ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:26-28

Denomination: Baptist

Pharaoh, Pharaoh Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 16, 2008

It’s Satan’s old, deceptive trickery: Mingling truth with error...meeting us halfway...desiring that we be compromisers! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint.

Pharaoh, Pharaoh Exodus 8-10 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Pharaoh.html [to the tune of Louie, Louie] “Pharaoh, pharaoh—oh baby, let my people go!” This was a tune heard at times in my college dorm halls. And sadly, Moses had to rehearse it over and over again because of the hard hearted ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Know Your Neighbor?

Contributed by Larry Turner on Jan 23, 2015

In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus tells about the inter-action of six characters to a wounded man. This sermon briefly analyzes each character.

Let’s begin today with a fun little quiz. I am going to name some neighbors from TV shows and you try to identify which show it was from. Some of these shows are really old so, unless you are my age, you may not know them. But all these shows are being shown in reruns. So let’s get ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Foursquare

The Fruit Of The Spirit "Goodness" Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Dec 4, 2009

Kindness is seen in our actions, goodness is seen in our character.

Show Vietnam video. What an amazing example of how goodness and love can overcome trauma of the past, hatred, language & cultural barriers, and bring forgiveness and immediate closeness between two people a world apart. Today’s fruit is the Apple to represent goodness. After all it’s the goodness ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

"Saints Struggle" Romans Pt. 9 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 9, 2007

This chapter addresses the struggle that goes on in the inner man between the works of the sinful nature and the way of the Spirit. But in the end the way of the Spirit is to be the dominant force in a saints life.

"Saints Struggle" Romans pt 9 Romans 7:1-25 Opening Illustration: Diamond Rio song with video and the Blue fish TV video of the Virginia Tech candlelight prayer service. This illustration reveals to us that every person on this earth is in a struggle between good and evil. This struggle is real ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:1-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Eggsample Of Folly

Contributed by David Nolte on May 12, 2021

We are often like the character Humpty Dumpty. Peter was too.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the King’s horses and all the King’s men could not put Humpty Dumpty together again! There is more than a nursery rhyme there. It is a parable of life, its injuries and the failure of human effort alone. This is an EGGsample of ...read more

Scripture: John 13:21-38, John 21:15-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Following Christ

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 22, 2009

When we consider what Christ desires from us we feel uneasy. Our relationship with Him affects all our other relationships ... For some of us these demands may seem too hard to achieve. We are afraid of whole-hearted obedience to Christ will cost us.

Opening illustration: S. I. McMillen, in his book None of These Diseases, tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Are You?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Oct 18, 2000

It is not what you do but who you are that counts!

Who Are You? When people think of God, church, religion or things of that nature they usually think of a code of ethics, rules or rituals. When asked what is important to God they will quote several "thou shalts or thou shalt nots". They may mention baptism, membership or giving. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:16-17, Matthew 7:15-23

Denomination: Baptist